ployed in several great transactions for raising loans, by which he realized a vast profit.

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8. In time he became immensely rich, and put his three sons into the same kind of businèss in the three chief capitals of Europe-London, Păris, and Vienna. All of them prospered. They became the wealthiest private men whom the world has ever known. He who lived in London, left at his death thirtyfive millions of dollars. The other two have been created bărons, and are perhaps not less wealthy. Thus a family, whose purse has maintained war and brought about peace, owes all its greatness to one act of honesty under trust.

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EVER speak any thing for å truth which you know or believe to be false. Lying is a great sin against God, who gave us a tongue to speak the truth, and not falsehood. It is a great offense against humanity itself; for, where there is no regard to truth, there can be no safe society between man and man. And it is an injury to the speaker; for, besides the disgrace which it brings upon him, it occasions so much basenèss of mind, that he can scarcely tell truth, or avoid lying, even when he has no color of necessity for it; and, in time, he comes to such a pass, that as other people can not believe he speaks truth, so he himself scarcely knows when he tells a falsehood.

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2. As you must be careful not to lie, so you must avoid coming near it. You must not equivocate, nor speak any thing positively for which you have no authority but report, or conjecture, or opinion.

3. Let your words be few, especially when your superiors or strangers are present, lest you betray your own weakness, and

1 Vienna, (ve ên′ nå).

'Băr' on, a nobleman; in England, a nobleman of the lowest grade of rank in the House of Lords.

E quiv o cãte, to use expressions or words which may be understood in two or more ways, with a view to mislead.

rob yourselves of the opportunity which you might otherwise have had, to gain knowledge, wisdom, and experience, by hearing those whom you silence by your impertinent' talking.

4. Be not too earnest, loud, or violent in your conversation. Silence your oppo'nent with reason, not with noise. Be careful not to interrupt another when he is speaking: hear him out, and you will understand him the better, and be able to give him the better answer.

5. Consider before you speak, especially when the business is of moment; weigh the sense of what you mean to utter, and the expressions you intend to use, that they may be significant,' pertinent, and inoffensive. Inconsiderate persons do not think till they speak; or they speak, and then think.

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6. Some men excel in husbandry, some in gardening, some in mathematics. In conversation, learn, as near as you can, where the skill or excellence of any person lies; put him upon talking on that subject, observe what he says, keep it in your memory, or commit it to writing. By this means, you will glean the worth and knowledge of everybody you converse with; and at an easy rate acquire what may be of use to you on many occasions.

7. When you are in company with light, vain, impertinent persons, let the observing of their failings make you the mōre cautious, both in your conversation with them and in your general behavior, that you may avoid their errors. If any one, whom you do not know to be a person of truth, sobriety, and weight, relates strange stories, be not too ready to believe or report them; and yet (unless he is one of your family acquaintances) be not too forward to contradict him. If the occasion requires you to declare your opinion, do it modestly and gently, not bluntly nor coarsely by this means you will avoid giving offense, or being abused for too much credulity.'

make you great and extraordinary' professions, do not give much credit to him. Probably you will find that he aims at something besides kindness to you, and that when he has served his turn, or been disappointed, his regard for you will grow cool. Beware, also, of him who flatters you, and commends you to your face, or to one who he thinks will tell you of it; most probably he has either deceived and abused you, or means to do so. Remember the fable of the fox commending the singing of the crow, that had something in her mouth which the fox wanted.

9. Be careful that you do not commend yourselves. It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking, if your own tongue must praise you; and it is fulsome and unpleasing to others to hear such commendations. Speak well of the absent whenever you have a suitable opportunity. Never speak ill of them, or of anybody, unless you are sure they deserve it, and unless it is necessary for their amendment, or for the safety and benefit of others.

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10. Avoid, in your ordinary communications, not only oaths, but all imprecations and earnèst protesta'tions. Forbear scoffing and jesting at the condition or natural defects of any perSuch offenses leave a deep impression; and they often

son.

cost a man dear.

11. Be very careful that you give no reproachful, menacing, or spiteful words to any person. Good words make friends: bad make words make enemies. It is great prudence to gain as many friends as we honestly can, especially when it may be done at so easy a rate as a good word; and it is great folly to make an enemy by ill words, which are of no advantage to the party who uses them. When faults are committed, they may, and by a superior they must, be reproved; but let it be done without reproach or bitternèss: otherwise it will lose its due end and use, and, instead of reforming the offense, it will exasperate the offender, and lay the reprover justly open to reproof.

12. If a person be passionate, and give you ill language, rather pity him than be moved to anger. You will find that silence,

1 Extraordinary, (eks trår di nary), out of the common course; more than common.

ing by over-fullness, or too much;

nauseous.

3 Mění a cing, expressing a deter 'Fǎl' some, offending or disgust- mination to injure; threatening.

or very gentle words, are the most ex'quisite' revenge for reproaches; they will either cure the distemper in the angry man, and make him sorry for his passion, or they will be a severe reproof and punishment to him. But, at any rate, they will preserve your innocence, give you the deserved reputation of wisdom and moderation, and keep up the serenity and composure of your mind. Passion and anger make a man unfit for every thing that becomes him as a man or as a Christian.

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13. Never utter any profane speeches, nor make a jest of any Scripture expressions. When you pronounce the name of God or of Christ, or repeat any passages or words of Holy Scripture, do it with reverence and seriousnèss, and not lightly, for that is "taking the name of God in vain." If you hear of any unseemly expressions used in religious exercises, do not publish them endeavor to forget them; or, if you mention them at all, let it be with pity and sorrow, not with derision or reproach. SIR MATHEW HALE.

II.

28. DR. FRANKLIN'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS.

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EVER have I known such a fireside companion as Dr. Franklin. Great as he was, both as a statesman and a philosopher, he never shōne in a light more winning than when he was seen in a domestic circle.

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2. It was once my good fortune to pass two or three weeks with him, at the house of a private gentleman, in the back part of Pennsylvania; and we were confined to the house during the whole of that time, by the unintermitting constancy and depth of the snow. But confinement could never be felt where Franklin was an inmate. His cheerfulness and his colloquial* powers spread around him a perpetual spring. There was no ambition of eloquence, no effort to shine in any thing that came

'Exquisite, (èks ́ kwî zit), carefully selected or sought out; hence, very nice; very great; giving rare satisfaction.

2 Se ren'i ty, clearness and calmness; quietness; coolness.

3 Un'in ter mit' ting, ceaseless; without interruption.

* Con' stan cy, permanent state; unalterable continuance.

5 Col lo' qui al, conversational; relating to conversation.

from him. There was nothing which made any demand either upon your allegiance' or your admiration.

3. His manner was as unaffected as infancy. It was nature's self. He talked like an old patriarch; and his plainness and simplicity put you, at once, at your ease, and gave you the full and free possession and use of all your faculties.

4. His thoughts were of a character to shine by their own light, without any adventitious' aid. They required only a medium of vision' like his pure and simple style, to exhibit to the highest advantage their native radiance and beauty.

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5. His cheerfulnèss was unremitting. It seemed to be as much the effect of the systematic and salutary" exercise of the mind, as of its superior organization." His wit was of the first order. It did not show itself merely in occasional coruscations; but, without any effort or force on his part, it shed a constant stream of the purèst light over the whole of his dis

course.

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6. Whether in the company of commons or nobles, he was always the same plain man; always most perfectly at his ease, his faculties in full play, and the full orbit" of his genius forever clear and unclouded. And then the stores of his mind were inexhaustible. He had commenced life with an attention so vigilant, that nothing had escaped his observation, and a judgment so solid, that every incident was turned to advantage.

7. His youth had not been wasted in idleness, nor overcast by intemperance. He had been all his life a close and deep reader, as well as thinker; and by the force of his own powers,